Look who's talking! Azam Khan asks Rajnath to take serious note of RSS' Hindu remark

Lucknow, Oct 28: Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan today sent a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asking him to take a serious note of RSS' statement that all citizens of the country are Hindus, claiming that such a remark was against the basic spirit of the Constitution.

In the letter to Rajnath, Khan drew his attention to the statement made by RSS' All India Publicity In-Charge Manmohan Vaidya on October 16 terming every citizen of India as a Hindu and said that such comments were harmful for the country's national unity and brotherhood.

"According to me, this is not only harmful to the amity and brotherhood but is also in a way against the spirit of the Constitution. It has also led to fear among the minority Muslims that their rights might be taken away anytime," Khan said in the letter.

Khan said minority groups living in fear was not in the national interest of the country.

"I hope that as the Home Minister you will take serious note of the kind of atmosphere being created in the country. ... As all the citizens have been given equal rights by the Constitution, I hope you will taken some step to ensure that the basic tenet of the Constitution is upheld," Khan said in his letter.

The Samajwadi Party leader claimed he had sent a similar letter to Rajnath earlier as well on October 21 but did not get any response from him.

On the eve of RSS' three-day conclave here, Vaidya had said, "In the eyes of RSS all those living in India are Hindu. RSS does not discriminate on the basis of caste and religion."

PTI